How to take horse chestnut for Varicose Veins

Condition analysis:
This is a common problem effecting between 10-20% of the population, with increasing incidence with age, most common above 50 years. It is 4 times more common in women than men. The core problem is that some degree of reversal of blood flow in the veins of the legs occurs, because of valve incompetency. This causes dilation of the veins and loss of tissue tone. The abnormal swelling of veins in the legs is a symptom of a generally poor circulatory system, with a loss of elasticity in the walls of the veins and particularly in their valves. When they are functioning normally, these valves prevent blood from flowing back away from the heart, but if their efficiency decreases some blood may stagnate in the vein, which then becomes swollen and twisted, causing aching and abnormal fatigue of the legs.

Instructions:
Horse Chestnut for Varicose Veins
Horse chestnut is one of the favorite herbs of medical herbalists who use it extensively for treating not only varicose veins but also chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) which is also a circulatory disease. Horse chestnut is an astringent and also a fine tonic for blood circulation. Aescin is the main compound in this herb which seems to inhibit the release of enzymes responsible for damaging capillary walls. Horse chestnut can relieve symptoms like swelling and pain besides strengthening blood vessel walls.

How to Take Horse Chestnut for Varicose Veins?
The seed, bark, flowers, and leaves, all are are used to make medicines. However, for varicose veins, the extract from horse chestnut seeds are thought to be most effective. Because horse chestnut herb also contains a poison called esculin, it should not be consumed raw or even unprocessed. Therefore, you cannot make tea or have it raw but can only take horse chestnut extract which is free of any poison that gets removed while processing the herb. For varicose veins and even for CVI, 300 mg of horse chestnut seed extract which contains 50 mg of the active ingredient, aescin, should be taken two times a day.